Electrical connecter



Oct. 19 1926.

w. J. GAGNONA ELEgTRIcAL CONNECTER origini Filed Feb. 29. 1924 Patented a. 19,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J' GAG-NON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR'TO THE BEAD CHAIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A .CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER.

Original application iiled February 29, 1924, Serial No. 695,972. Divided and this application filed September 17, 1925. Serial No. 56,819.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon. which form a part of this specification. Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several Figures therein.

This application is a division of an application iiled by me February 29,1924, Serial No. 695,972, for electrical connecters.

The principal object of the invention is to obtain a more eii'ective engagement between the cooperating contact portions of the cornecter. l r

Other objects will appear in connection with the following description.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a view in side elevation of a socket-member of an electrical connecter with the housing partly brokenaway` to expose to view the two contactsockets which are made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a broken-away portion of the plug-member of the connecter, showing in side elevation 2 the two plugs, andl illustrating diagrammaticallya resistance included in the circuit between the plugs.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the socketmember. takenv on.the .broken line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the contact-sockets as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal Isection on` an enlarged scale taken on the broken line 5 5 in Fig. 2, through one of the contact-plugs.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 4, through the attaching end of the contact-socket.

o Fig. 7 lis a lhorizontal section taken on the broken line 7-7 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the broken line 8-8 in Fig. 4, and showing a horizontal section of the contact-plug enclosed by the contact-socket.

Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, I

have shown the socket-member, 1,4provided with two contact-sockets` 3, and the plugmember, 2, provided with two plugs, 4, al-

though my invention is equally applicable to a single contact-socket, 3, and a single plug, 4- In the drawings-5I have shown the invention applied to an electrical connecter as used for ordinary household devices such as toasters, coiee percolators, electric fiat-irons and the like. in which case a plurality ot' contact-sockets and plugs are employed, the plug-member, 2, being the device to be heated by means of a resistance, 5, included in the circuit between the plugs, 4.

I preferably make the plug in the form of a hollow post, split longitudinally along one side as shown at 6; and Jform the wall of the plug of two metals, 7 and 8, of split cylindrical form welded or otherwise secured together, the inner member, 8, having a higher coeiiicient of expansion than the outer member, 7 whereby under the action of heat the post tends to expand or increase in diameter. The plug may be made solid if preferred.

In applying my invention to the contactsocket, 3, the socket is split longitudinally as shown at 9, and the wall of the socket is formed of, two metals, 10 and 11, ot split cylindrical form, thel outer metal, 10 having a higher coefficient of expansion than the inner metal, 11, the two members 10 and 11, being secured together by welding or in any other known manner.

The operation of the device is as follows: A plug, 4, is inserted in a socket, 3, they being made to approximately it together with the socketof normal diameter. When the electric current is transmitted between the contact-socket, 3, and the plug. 4, if the plug does not fit sufliciently tightly within the contact-socket, the socket and plug become heated. causing the plug to tend to expand and the contact-socket to tend to contract, due to their respectivethermostatic constructions.

The split portion of the wall of the plug thus tends. to move under the action of heat toward the wall of the cooperative contactsocket; and in a similar manner the split portion of the wall of the ycontact-socket under the action of heat tends to move toward the cooperative contact-plug.

Any looseness in the fitting of the plug within the contact-socket is thus automatically corrected in the operation of the de vice.

In order to prevent undue or injurious expansion or displacement of the walls of the contact-socket by careless insertion -of a plug into the socket, I .provide the device with means for limiting the expansion of the socket.

This expansion-limiting means is in the form of a T-shaped tongue, 14, projecting from one edgeof the split wall of the socket and occupying a similarly shaped opening, 15, in the wall of the socket on the opposite side of the split` with provision for sufiicient lost` motion to permit limited eX- pansion of the socket.

The head on the tongue, .14. may be offset in any desired form, whereby by engagement with the opening in the opposite wall of the socket, the movement of expansion of the socket is limited for the purpose of this invention.

When the socket is employed with a thermostatically expansible plug, as shown in the drawings, the expansion-limiting means makes it possible to make the socket sufficiently yielding to readily receive the plug, and then by preventing further expansion to resist the expansive force of the plug to approximately the same extent as though the socket were of continuous circular form in cross section and not split.

I do not wish to be limited to the constructions shownand above described, as, yfor certain purposes of the invention, various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of various parts of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will also be understood that claims to patentable features of the connecter illustrated` broader than those appended hereto, are not waived. Such generic claims are presented in the aforesaid original application Serial Number 695,972, and one or more .tending under the action of heat to contract the socket, said socket being provided on one side of the split with an opening and having a tongue projecting from the other side of the split and formed with an offsetengageable within said opening to limit the -movement of expansion of the socket.

2. A connecter for electrical conductors including a contact-plug, and a split contact-socket having a. thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to contract the socket. said socket being provided on one side of the split with a T-shaped opening, and having a T-shaped tongue projecting from the other side of the split engageable within said opening to limit the movementof expansion of the socket.

3. A connecter ,for electrical conductors including a split contact-plug having a thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to expand the plug, and a split contact-socket having a thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to contract the socket, said Socket being provided on one side of the split with an opening and having a tongue projecting from the other side of the split and formed with an oilset engageable within said opening to limit the movement of expansion of the socket.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of September, 1925.

WILLIAM J. GAGNON. 

